Some Wonder If Anonymity Would Stop Shooting Copycats

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ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – There has been a lot of soul searching since the shooting tragedy in Connecticut. On Tuesday, Christ Church Cathedral in downtown St. Louis held an evening of remembrance for the victims, which also focused on ending violence in the St. Louis area.

In the days following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a number of local schools have gone on lockdown because of various scares, from rumors of a BB gun, to an armed teenager roaming an area near an elementary school.

For police, all the attention given to Friday’s killer causes concern about copycats.

Maryland Heights Police Department Sgt. Matt Delia explains, “Everybody wants to know about this person. Where did he grow up? What did he do? When you give any kind of publicity to someone who does such a heinous act, I think it gives others the idea that if they’re seeking some kind of publicity, this is what they’re going to do. They want to one-up the next guy.”

Meanwhile at Christ Church Cathedral’s vigil, Reverend Mike Kinman says there’s much to pray about after such a tragedy.

But keeping the shooter anonymous? Kinman feels it’s unrealistic, “I think it’s a moot point. I think in today’s world of the internet and 24-hour cable news, I don’t think you can keep anything anonymous.”

Sgt. Delia agrees it would be difficult to keep gunmen anonymous due to current sunshine laws that make their identity public record. He says there would probably have to be a new law passed to keep their names hidden.